the fc.
IMSA TALENT to Support
Budding Science and '"^^n.o^^'
Technology Entrepreneurs
By Catherine C. Veal, Vice President for Advancement
Think talented teenagers can conceive, design, Alumni Perspectives
develop, test, evaluate and market ideas and IMSA alumni agree and see M - I
productstochangethe world? IMSA does — and TALENT as one way of ensuring *^ ' ^
in 2004-05 will launch its Total Applied Learning ^^^^ ,^5^ remains at the forefront
for Entrepreneurs (TALENT) program, thanks to ^f science, mathematics and
Virginia B. Cherry (see page 9). technology education.
In brief, IMSA TALENT will provide on-campus, "Currently students with potentially
off-campus and virtual learning experiences and commercial ideas not only lack the
resources to stimulate and encourage entrepre- ^^^^^ ^^ explore the idea, but also lack
neurial applied science and technology projects by draining in the basic building principles
IMSA students and other talented Illinois students. needed to take a product to market," said David
TALENT also will support their understanding of j^^^^ ,gg j^^^g i^^ows firsthand the struggles and John Maxson (center)
the entrepreneurial process required to take a rewards of doing so, having been the president meets with IMSA
concept from idea to market. ^^d co-founder of Vindigo, www.vindigo.com, which students and House
IMSAs commitment is closely aligned with the makes personal navigation tools and applications Speaker Dennis Hastert.
Illinois Coalition's goal of driving economic growth for today's most popular handheld devices.
through science and technology, said John Maxson, „|^ ^m ^^ interesting for students to explore how
Illinois Coalition president (pictured right). scientific discoveries create new business land-
scapes and allow new companies to take over — INSIDE:
and examples where upstarts are beaten back 2i st Century
when established players quickly adapt," Joerg Information Fluency ... .2
said. "The impact of IMSA TALENT will be ,wca ai • d n a
^ , , ■ IMSA Alumni Profile ... .4
students who are wise beyond their years
in the ways of the business world." IMSA Fund Overview ... .5
^,,- ,., , ,^-, • , -TA, i-M-r u J IMSA Kids Institute 3
Jennifer Ellis Ward '93, wishes TALENT had
existed when she was at IMSA. "Two of NBPTS Certification 12
the hardest parts of being a scientist National Mathematical
learning to be an entrepreneur are Modeling Contest 8
that business thinking is very Service to Illinois 10-11
different from thinking as a ^3^ ^^^^^ All-Academic Team 8
Continued on page 9 Wfiat Others Soy About IMSA 6-7
Traditional educational institutions
prepare students for traditional jobs in
business, education, government, and
the arts. Today's graduates will be faced
with broader opportunities, including
many in the world of entrepreneurship.
Young people need an early orientation
to this new world, where they can be
the beneficiaries of their own creativity
and energies, J J said John Maxson,
Illinois Coalition president.
r^lMS/V
A Pioneering Educational Community
^IMSA
Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy*
1500 West Sullivan Road
Aurora, Illinois 60506-1000
630/907-5000
IMSA BOARD OF TRUSTEES
CHAIRMAN
Dr. Luis Nunez
Deputy Associate Laboratory Director
Physical, Biological & Computing Sciences
Argonne National Laboratory
VICE CHAIRMAN
Steven Isoye
Principal, O'Plaine Campus
Warren Township High School
TRUSTEES
Dr. Victoria Chou
Dean, College of Education
University of Illinois at Chicago
Dr. Stanley E. Fish
Dean, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
University of Illinois at Chicago
Sheila MB Griffin
President
Griffin Holdings
John H. McEachern, Jr
Retired President/CEO
Wayne Circuits, Inc.
Kevin Murphy
Teacher
Lyons Township High School
Dr. Chris Quigg
Senior Theoretical Physicist
Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory
Dr Marsha Rosner
Professor and Director
Ben May Institute for Cancer Research
University of Chicago
Jesus Manuel Sosa
Administrator
Chicago Public Schools
Sharon Tenhouse
Teacher
Liberty Elementary School
EX-OFFICIO
Dr. Sherry Eagle
Super/ntenc/er7f
Aurora West School District 129
Dr Daniel LaVista
Executive Director
Illinois Board of Higher Education
Geoffrey S. Obrzut
President/CEO
Illinois Community College Board
Dr. Robert Schiller
State Superintendent
Illinois State Board of Education
PRESIDENT
Dr. Stephanie Pace Marshall
NOVA is published by the
IMSA Office of Advancement.
Send comments or questions to:
Editor and Writer
Brenda Buschbacher
brenda@imsa.edu
Find Virtual Treasures
on IMSA's 21 GIF Web Site
By Jane St. Pierre, Director of Marketing and Communications
How can knowledge of the "Opaque Web"
improve your Internet research results? Where
are the best sites about women in World War
II? Through IMSA's 21st Century Information
Fluency Program (21CIF), Illinois teachers and
school librarians uncover the secrets of finding
rich educational resources on the Web.
More than 400 Illinois educators have enrolled
in free online courses and workshops to learn
the art of locating, evaluating and using
Internet resources in the classroom.
A Center for Life Long
Learning
While many educators enrolled in 21CIF
courses and workshops, the 21CIF Web
site {http://wizard.imsa.edu) is a hub for
ongoing services and community building.
The goal of the Web site is to build a
community among colleagues who are
dedicated to bringing online resources to
school libraries and classrooms. It keeps
members informed about news, services
and programs, and developments in
digital information services.
"While the formal 21CIF courses and
workshops are key components of the
project, the Web site is a source for
ongoing professional development," said
Bob Houston, IMSA 21CIF project director.
Practical Tools for School
Libraries and Classrooms
The Teaching/Learning Materials section
of the Home Page provides tools to
start a school-based Information
Fluency Program.
This section features "Self Guided Micro-
Modules", an online teaching and learning
package consisting of short, self-guided
lessons that cover a wide range of
Internet topics. The individual modules
can be used by anyone from sixth grade
through adult learners.
The Teaching/Learning Materials section
of the Web site also features Lesson Plans
that use Internet resources and a Guide
on creating a school- based Information
Fluency Program. Produced by Illinois
educators, the guide and lesson plans
address National and State technology
standards.
A Source for Local
News/National Trends
The News Section covers headline stories
on Internet trends and resources such as
the latest poll of the seven largest
Internet search engines. It also highlights
timely information about 21CIF course
and workshop openings and registration.
The Links section contains Web links
to items of interest and resources for
educators. This section is constantly being
updated with new and useful information.
Networking Opportunities
The website's Community Center enables
educators to become part of an online
community where they can share ideas,
problem solve and network. Here educa-
tors can be part of a weekly discussion
forum, join a newsletter mailing list or
visit a photo gallery of 21CIF members.
IMSA also works closely with organiza-
tions like the Illinois School Library Media
Association (ISLMA) to get expert advice
on the needs of Illinois educators.
"ISLMA members are the 'eyes and ears'
of Illinois school librarians, teachers and
students, giving us the practical advice
we need to develop relevant Internet
tools for the classroom." said Dr. David
Barr, director for Development of Online
Resources at IMSA.
To join the community of educators who
are dedicated to digital information
literacy, go to {http://wizard.imsa.edu).
Funded by a grant from the U.S.
Department of Education -Funds for the
Improvement of Education, IMSA 21CIF
instructional programs and services are
free of charge to Illinois K-12 educators.
Additional supporters include Andrew
Corporation/Aileen S. Andrew Foundation
and Ameren Corporation.
'^mmmmm.
IMSA Kids Institute' Serves Thousands of Illinois Youth
By Britta Wilk McKenna, IMSA Kids Institute' Coordinator
Due to popular demand, the IMSA on
Wheels assembly-style science show will
take centerstage this summer on Main
Street at the Illinois State Fair. IMSA on
Wheels and other programs presented
through the IMSA Kids Institute' have more
than 6,000 Illinois youths clammering
for more.
Each year, more than 125 IMSA students
share their love of math and science with
young people throughout Illinois. Through
the Kids Institute (Kl), IMSA students learn
the rewards of community service as they
become tutors, classroom presenters and
workshop leaders to Illinois youth.
KI Leaders Win Awards
Several Kl student volunteers were
recently recognized for their service to
Illinois. IMSA seniors Shareese Pryor and
Alice Zhao of Aurora received the Aurora
Youth Character Award for their Kids
Institute and volunteer work in the
Aurora community (see photo).
Kl volunteer Kevin Bock of Geneva was
selected as one of two IMSA seniors to
receive the Illinois Principals Association
(IPA) Youth Leadership Award (senior
Annie Ko of Bolingbrook was the other
recipient).
IMSA on Wheels Rolls into
Central Illinois
IMSA on Wheels, IMSA's mobile science
theater program, is now operating at
full throttle.
Just this year alone, 12 IMSA students
presented IMSA on Wheels science shows
to 32 schools and more than 5,000 elemen-
tary students. A spring break tour through
the Central Illinois towns of Streator, Peoria,
Tremont, Bloomington and Normal
reached five schools and 950 students
in three days.
Juniors Jessica Parr of Bradley and Susan
Pinto of Chicago developed the new
show, "Air and Pressure" for their IMSA
inquiry project. In addition, senior Kevin
Bock created an IMSA on Wheels DVD to
IMSA seniors Danielle Ruffin, Shareese Pryor and Alice Zhao of Aurora receive the American
Youth Character Award during the City of Aurora's 3rd Annual American Youth Character
Awards luncheon sponsored by the Aurora Kiwanis Club. Also pictured are Aurora Chief of
Police William Lawler and Vernon LaVia of the Aurora Kiwanis.
be distributed to elementary and middle
schools in the fall of 2004.
This summer, IMSA on Wheels also will
perform at the Main Street stage at the
Illinois State Fair in Springfield, Saturday,
August 14 and Sunday, August 15.
In addition. Bock will perform a live
teleconference to the State Fair.
Elementary Students Join
"Club IMSA"
Launched in January, Club IMSA is an
after school literacy and math program
led by IMSA Kl student volunteers for
31 students in grades 2-5 at Johnson
Elementary School in East Aurora.
Inquiry student Shareese Pryor of Aurora
and mentorship student Janet D'Souza
of Chicago led the literacy portion of
the project and Darian Turner of East
St. Louis and Alice Zhao of Aurora led
the math tutoring.
Donors Support KI
The IMSA Kids Institute continued to
receive external funding support from
the following generous donors during
the 2003-04 school year:
• The City of Aurora once again
contributed $30,000 for operational
support and scholarships;
• BP contributed $10,000 to support
the IMSA on Wheels DVD Project
and Science Explorers, Jr. Camp;
• 3M continued to support Kl with a
grant of $5,000 for IMSA on Wheels;
• Target Stores provided a grant of
$2,000 to support Project READ; and
an Aurora area business campaign
supported six full Kl summer camp
scholarships.
A more detailed description of Summer
2004 Kl camps can be found online at
www.imsa.edu/kidsinstitute.
For information about the IMSA Kids
Institute" or to be placed on the Kids
Institute mailing list, please visit
www.imsa.edu/kidsinstitute or call
(630) 907-5987.
r^lMSA
Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy*
1500 West Sullivan Road
Aurora. Illinois 60506-1000
630/907-5000
IMSA FUND
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OFFICERS
HONORARY CHAIRMAN
James R. Thompson
Partner and Chairman of the
Executive Committee
Winston & Strawn
PRESIDENT
Michael J. Birck
VICE PRESIDENT
William J. White
Professor
Northwestern University
VICE PRESIDENT
Gregory K. Jones
Partner
Edgewater Funds
TREASURER
Dr. Nandu N. Thondavadi
Founding Chairman, President and CEO
Mascon Global Limited
SECRETARY'
Catherine C. Veat
Vice President for Advancement
IMSA
DIRECTORS
Susan Snell Barnes
President and CEO
The Landmark Group of Companies
John F. Berger
Chairman and CEO
Universal Internet Properties, Inc
G. Thomas Castino
Consultant to the President (Retired)
Underwriters Laboratories, Inc.
Martin J. DiMarzio '95
Sen/or Consultant
Deloitte & Touche
Michael W. Ferro, Jr.
Chief Executive Officer
Click Commerce. Inc.
Sandra Goeken
Vice Chairman
The Goeken Group
Chelsy A. Hopper '92
Graduate Student
University of Illinois
Richard A. Lumpkin
Chairman and CEO
Illinois Consolidated Telephone Company
James D. Pearson
(Retired) President
Aurora Metals Division, L.L.C.
Sendhil R. Revuluri '90, CFA
Teacher
Bronx Academy of Letters
Robert E. Spitzer
Vice President
External Affiliations/University Relations
The Boeing Company
IMSA Alumni Profile: Erin Roche '89
By Eric J. Rettberg, Resident Counselor and Alumni Program Assistant
Educational Leader,
Chicago Public Schools
The story of Erin Roche, professional
educator and IIVISA '89 graduate, makes
it clear that the Academy's influence
includes the field of education.
Today, Roche is an assistant principal at
Noble Street High School, a charter
school under the Chicago Public Schools
Roche, one of the first beneficiaries
of IMSA's unique
educational model,
acknowledges his
IMSA experience as
one factor that
influences the way
he views his work
as an educator at a
different kind of
alternative high
school.
"One of the things
I learned at IMSA,"
says Roche, "is that
it's so important to
have some adult
connection, some-
one who is looking
out for you on
every level — aca-
demic, social, intel-
lectual, spiritual —
making sure you're
having fun and making good friends,
making sure you're developing yourself.
I experienced that kind of situation with
several teachers at IMSA, and it's a real
focus of my interactions with students
and co-workers at Noble Street."
"Noble Street has been around for five
years. It focuses on college prep, but it's
nonselective — the student body is chosen
by a stria lottery system, and anyone can
apply. There are about 470 students; 80%
are African American, 12% are Latino,
and 85% come from low-income families."
In June 2003, Noble Street graduated its
first class, and its success speaks to the
devotion of its staff. "100% of the class
graduated, and about 80% went on to
post-secondary school," says Roche.
"That's phenomenal for a city school."
Noble Street focuses on developing the
whole person; physical fitness is a strong
emphasis, as is an emphasis on positive
interaction between adults and students.
"One of the reasons
I like Noble Street
so much is its
advisory system,"
says Roche. A class
period each day
finds an adult
advisor "constantly
encouraging the
students, pushing
them to do better."
Value
of IMSA
While many IMSA
graduates go on to
careers specifically
oriented toward
math, science, and
technology, IMSA
provides a holistic
education that
provides its gradu-
ates with an endless
variety of other careers. Roche sees these
non-math-and-science-related opportunities
as an essential part of IMSA's role.
"A few engineers or computer scientists
coming out of IMSA will not solve Illinois'
problems," says Roche. "It's a variety of
careers, an emphasis on forming ethical
leaders with strong values, that will improve
the state. A background in math and
science can help someone do any job well."
Grants Extend IMSA's Reach in Illinois
A $210,000 grant from the Grand Victoria
Foundation to support the Problem-Based
Learning Network at IMSA tops the list of
major grants received this year through
the IMSA Fund for Advancement of
Education.
This second grant from the foundation
(the IMSA Fund received a $100,000 grant
in 2003) will provide ongoing support to
deliver high quality professional develop-
ment for two more years to area teachers
and school districts involved in IMSA's Fox
Valley Problem-Based Learning initiative.
Participating schools and districts include
Batavia School District #101, Burlington
School District #301, East Aurora School
District #131, St. Charles School District
#303 and Marmion Academy in Aurora.
Ameren Grant Serves
Central and Southern Illinois
in addition to the Grand Victoria
Foundation grant, a grant from St. Louis-
based energy services company Ameren
Corporation will help IMSA serve central
and southern Illinois.
In addition to supporting PBL training,
the Ameren funds will support IMSA's
Excellence 2000-h Program, a mathematics
and science enrichment program for
Illinois middle schools, and the 21st
Century Information Fluency Project
(see story on page 2), an Internet skills
program for Illinois teachers.
"Supporting our teachers is an invest-
ment in the future of our state," said
Richard J. Mark, Ameren vice president
of Governmental Policy and Consumer
Affairs.
Chicago Community
Foundation, SBC and Molex
Support Other IMSA Programs
The Chicago Community Foundation, the
SBC Foundation and Molex Incorporated
each contributed $25,000 to the IMSA
Fund for a variety of IMSA programs.
Dr. Norman Lederman, chair of the
Department of Mathematics and Science
Education at the Illinois Institute of
Technology, addressed teachers May 14
in IMSA's Fox Valley Problem-Based
Learning Initiative.
The Chicago Community Foundation
grant supported IMSA's Assessment
Capacity Building Project designed to
build an assessment system to transform
the way schools measure student success.
This new system will focus on measuring a
student's "deep conceptual understanding"
of subjects rather than simply measuring
how well a student remembers facts
and content.
A grant from the SBC Foundation allowed
IMSA to enhance and expand its Student
Leadership Development program by sup-
porting a number of new initiatives to
help students gain a better understanding
of ethical decision-making.
Student leadership initiatives supported by
the grant include a weeklong leadership
training seminar, a leadership symposium
and the creation of a student-produced
multi-media CD-ROM containing a leader-
ship guide for other Illinois schools.
Finally, a grant from Molex Incorporated
supported the IMSA Great Minds Program®.
The Great Minds Program is shared with
students and teachers throughout Illinois
and beyond through seminars, dialogues
and community lectures.
Other Gifts to the IMSA Fund
other recent gifts to the IMSA Fund
included a $10,000 grant from the Circle
of Service Foundation Inc. in Vernon Hills,
IL. and a $5,000 grant from Lucent
Technologies for IMSA's S.E.A.M.S.
(Summer Enrichment for Academics in
Mathematics and Science) program.
This two-week residential program at
IMSA serves underrepresented students
entering the 9th grade who need to
further improve their mathematics,
science and English skills.
The S.E.A.M.S. program includes a variety
of hands-on experiential learning oppor-
tunities and fosters group inquiry and
problem-solving. Activities include topics
in geometry, observation skills, physics
and research skills.
What Others Say About IMSA
State and National
Media Tout IMSA
"... the Illinois Math and Science
Academy offers a different vision
of what education could be.
Or should be."
Peoria Journal Star
January 1 1, 2004
One only needs to read recent
articles in The Wall Street Journal,
the Chicago Sun-Times, the Peoria
Journal Star, the national School
Library Journal or Illinois Issues
magazine to realize the breadth
and depth of IMSA's influence.
These are among numerous
media that have profiled IMSA's
value to the state of Illinois and
nation in recent months.
The Wall Street
Journal Ranking
In the April 2, 2004 issue of The Wall
Street Journal, IMSA was recognized as
one of the top 65 "successful high schools
across the country" based on admission
to 10 selective colleges, including seven
Ivy League schools.
In the story, "The Price of Admission:
Your Tuition Dollars at Work," IMSA was
also recognized as a high school that
"delivered the most value."
Experiment in Learning
In October 2003, the Chicago Sun-Times
article "Experiment in Learning" profiled
the Academy's charter class, the Class
of 1989, 15 years after they graduated.
The article featured interviews with IMSA
graduates who are now making their
mark in a variety of fields including
science, education, business, computer
science and others.
IMSA Alum Thandeka Chapman of
DeKalb, an assistant professor of urban
education at the University of Wisconsin-
Milwaukee, told the Sun-Times that her
three years at IMSA were "intense."
"It was probably the toughest three years
I've ever endured," Chapman said. "But I'm
definitely glad I went there ... I wish more
kids could experience the learning I did."
Alum Erin Roche (see his profile on page 4),
assistant principal at Noble Street Charter
School in Chicago, said the IMSA teachers
had a real passion for their subjects.
"Lots had such wonderful enthusiasm, it
was palpable," Roche told the Sun-Times.
"You could just see the vibrations off
their skin when kids got it."
In addition to the Sun-Times article on
IMSA's Charter Class, IMSA President Dr.
Stephanie Pace Marshall was recognized
by the newspaper this spring as one of
the 100 most powerful women in Chicago,
and one of the 10 most powerful in the
field of education.
Degree of Excellence
In January 2004, the Peoria Journal Star
profiled students from the Peoria and
Bloomington-Normal readership area after
visiting the Academy earlier in the year.
The article "Degree of Excellence" took
an in-depth look at the daily life of an
IMSA student and at what makes its
learners "decidedly different."
The article described IMSA as a "collabo-
rative, research-based environment"
that is "further fueled by a mandatory
research and inquiry requirement that
exposes students to scholars and scientists
at more than 100 institutions in and
around Chicago."
Student Nick Rossi of Tremont told reporter
Pam Adams that one outcome of the
collaborative environment at IMSA was
that "cliques" hardly exist.
"There's no room for them, we're all so
dependent on each other."
"Hardly Rocket Science"
In February 2004, the national School
Library Journal touted IMSA's 21st
Century Information Fluency Program
(see article on page 2) for helping to
bridge the information gap between
mathematics and science teachers and
librarians.
In the 21st Century Information Fluency
Program (21CIF), teachers and librarians
throughout Illinois participate in online
professional development workshops to
help improve math and science learning
in the classroom.
The article "Hardly Rocket Science" cited
specific examples of how IMSA's 21CIF
Program is helping to improve learning in
Illinois classrooms including the following:
In the IMSA Information Fluency project...
participating math and science teachers
and their librarian peers have created
engaging and dynamic lesson plans. For
example, science teacher Belinda Veillon
and media specialist Jane Larson from
Nippersink Middle School in Richmond, IL,
co-designed a unit to teach gifted sixth
graders how to find sites with credible
information on nanotechnology.
This project appears on
the 21CIF Web site at
wizard.imsa.edu.
In addition, the
article also featured
online math and ,
science tools for
librarians recom-
mended by Paula
Garrett, coordina-
tor of the IMSA
Information
Resource Center.
Illinois Issues Magazine
In the May 2004 issue of Illinois Issues
magazine, the article "Brain drain"
examined the need for educators in
Illinois who can help to increase the
math and science talent pool in an
increasingly high-tech world.
The article touts IMSA as a school "built
in 1985 to tackle sagging interest and
performance head on and build Illinois'
future talent pool."
IMSA is cited as a school where teachers
"fight Americans' social acceptance
of statements such as 'I was never any
good at math,'."
Dr. Marshall told reporter Marcia Frellick
the need to change math and science
curriculum materials currently being used.
Marshall told Illinois Issue^., "This is the
age of mathematics and science. What
has been discovered in the last 20 years
is phenomenal. If our kids cannot speak
it fluently, they will be locked out of the
world's equntion."
IMSA Students Hit Grand Slam
at Math Modeling Contest
By Brian Thornburg, Assistant Writer
Who says today's students don't find
math relevant?
A team of three IMSA students put their
mathematical and problem- solving skills
to work to create a mathematical model
focusing on the dimensions of various
Major League Baseball parks and how
"fair" they are to player performance.
For the second consecutive year, Jeffrey
Chang of Glenview, Alex Garivaltis of
Hinsdale, and David Xu of Naperville
received the highest ranking possible
of "National Outstanding" at the High
School Mathematical Contest in Modeling
(HiMCM). Only eight teams out of 274
that competed nationwide received
this ranking.
Teams of up to four students from 43
high schools across the country worked
at their schools during a predetermined
36-hour period. Each team chose one of
two modeling problems offered and
then constructed their solutions.
"I was excited and proud when I saw that
we had won," said Chang. "When I saw
David and Alex we just gave each other
really big grins," he said. "There is a really
nice sense of satisfaction, after we put in
these grueling 36 hours, to know that we
did a good job."
Ball Park Basics
Fence distances from home plate and
outfield wall heights were taken into
consideration for the model, as well as
atmospheric conditions such as wind
speed and air pressure.
field and 335 to right field. Their paper
will be published this spring in a special
issue of the COMAP (Consortium for
Mathematics and Its Applications) bulletin.
Students determined of the six ballparks
analyzed, Yankee Stadium in New York
City provided the optimal conditions for
player performance. Other parks that
followed in ranking order from favorable
to less favorable were parks in Atlanta,
Minneapolis-St. Paul, Miami, Anaheim
and Denver.
"We discussed (and argued) about the
concept of fairness in ballparks, how ^^^.«_^HBiit___
works be a ^^^^^I^B^^IIIIIIIIHIHIIHHII
way to the ^^^^H^^^'^^w^^^^^^^^^l
The students also determined that the ^^^^^^^^'"^ J^^^^^SI^^B
optimal dimensions for a truly "fair" ball- f^^^^Km^'^ _^^!w^^^^tlBSftli
park would measure 387 feet from home t^^^^^BSS^^^^^^^^^SlS^M
to the left field fence, 434 feet to center ^^^^^^'» ^~«"rin|^^^^^B!3^Rfl
1
5
"■
■ ■ We had to make a number of assumptions about the physical
ballpark and the game play we were simulating, such as the shape
of the field, initial batting conditions, and air drag on the ball,
which we felt were necessary in order to have a feasible model. 1 /
IMSA Senior Named to USA TODAY'S 2004
All-USA High School Academic First Team
mJBATODKfxom
> 2004, USA TODAY Reprinted with pen
Bobby Xu
IMSA senior Bobby
Xu of Naperville was
the only student
from Illinois to be
named to USA
TODAY'S 2004 All-
USA High School
Academic First Team.
He was one of 20
students named
in its 18th annual competition out of
more than 1,600 nominees nationwide.
"These students are truly an example
of outstanding scholarship, intellectual
achievement and leadership. We are
proud to recognize these exceptional
students who inspire us all," said USA
TODAY Editor Ken Paulson.
For a full excerpt of the USA TODAY article,
go to www.usatoday.com/news/education/
2004-05-11-first-hi-academic_x.htm
Xu plans to attend Harvard in the fall. In
addition to Xu, IMSA senior Peter Wang
of Naperville received an honorable
mention in the competition.
Both Wang and Xu also were named
semifinalists earlier in the year in the 63rd
Intel Science Talent Search competition.
Xu's research, conducted through the
IMSA Mentorship Program and focused
in the field of biomedical engineering,
investigated the development of effective
treatments for brain disorders such as
epilepsy and schizophrenia. He is first
author of a paper published in Physics
in Medicine and Biology and also was a
delegate to the NATO science conference
in Hungary. Outstanding individual schol-
arship or intellectual achievement, and
leadership roles in activities on or off
campus were the most important criteria
to the USA TODAY judges. Students also
were judged on academic performance,
honors, awards, rigor of academic pursuits
and the ability to express themselves in
writing. USA TODAY is the nation's top-
selling newspaper with a total average
daily circulation of 2.3 million. It is
published via satellite at 36 locations
in the USA and at four sites abroad.
ARTICLE CONTINUED FROM PI
scientist and getting funding for good ideas is very difficult,"
she said. A founding scientist of Meoigen Biotechnology, Inc.,
www.meiogen.com, Ward began her research during her IMSA
years, working with Dr. Leonard Maroun at Southern Illinois
University School of Medicine in Springfield. Eventually, the mouse
studies that were part of Ward's project became proof of concept
for a series of patents to use anti-interferons to treat Down
Syndrome. To translate their idea from lab to clinic and get
promising drugs to market, Meiogen was born. The company's
proprietary products and methods center on cytokine-related
neurological diseases like Down Syndrome, Alzheimer's and
AIDS dementia. While the science is "going really well," Ward
says attracting venture capital can be taxing. "Unfortunately,
many investors do not feel that a drug for Down Syndrome is
very marketable. We are trying to change that misperception,"
she said.
Ben Chelf '96 is one of the founders of Coverity, Inc.,
www.coverity.com, which provides state-of-the-art source
code analysis technology. His work was featured in the April
issue of Linux Magazine, www.linux-mag.com. The technology
is considered breakthrough because it can detect many types
of bugs extremely efficiently in real systems such as Linux.
"Through starting a company, I learned so much about how
technology can be taken from academia and applied in the
real world," Chelf said. "The fact that IMSA is now taking
steps to assure that students ten years my junior can learn
these same lessons is encouraging. Initiating the TALENT
program solidifies my belief that the Academy is on the
cutting edge of educating our future leaders to guide
Illinois, our nation and the world."
Eric McLaren, IMSA vice president for academic programs
and principal, looks forward to IMSA's expanding role in
nurturing budding science and technology entrepreneurs.
"We eagerly anticipate that more of our graduates and
other talented Illinois students will follow in the footsteps
of pioneering IMSA alumni like Dave, Jenn and Ben," he said.
Virginia B. Cherry
Gives $150,000 for
IMSA TALENT
The IMSA Fund for Advancement of Education
has received a major gift of $150,000 from
Virginia B. Cherry, in memory of her husband,
Walter L. Cherry, to help jump start IMSA TALENT
Mrs. Cherry's generous commitment will fund
the IMSA TALENT Cherry Apprentices Program, a
formal three-year pilot program, in collaboration
with the Illinois Coalition, www.ilcoalition.org, to
help launch IMSA TALENT and test various ideas
and strategies for developing high school students'
interests and skills in entrepreneurial science and
technology applications. Walter Cherry, who died in
1996, founded Cherry Corporation, www.cherrycorp.com,
50 years ago with an idea to provide an improved
snap action electrical switch. Based in Waukegan, IL,
today the company is a global leader in the design,
development, and manufacture of automotive switches
and modules, computer keyboards, and switches and
controls for various commercial and industrial applications.
Mr. Cherry was an early fan of IMSA and Mr. and Mrs.
Cherry were early donors to the IMSA Fund. Peter
Cherry, Chairman and President of Cherry Corporation,
said, "My father was imbued with the entrepreneurial
spirit and knew of its vital importance to the future of
industry in not only this country, but also the world.
Upon his return from every visit to IMSA, he came back
with a genuine and infectious enthusiasm for the young
people he had met, so my mother and I are certain he
would be delighted to support IMSA's exciting TALENT
program."
IMSA President Dr. Stephanie Pace Marshall, said, "We
are deeply honored and very grateful that the Cherry
family shares our far-reaching commitment to develop
talent and leadership in mathematics, science and
technology for society and the workforce of tomorrow."
<d
Service to Illinois and Beyond
Professional Contributions
Recent examples include:
Dr. Raymond Dagenais, IMSA professional
development specialist in mathematics
and science, assisted in the development
and review of the new physics teacher
certification test as a member of the
Illinois State Board of Education's Physics
Content Advisory Committee.
Physics teacher Laura Nickerson (IMSA '92)
was nominated to the National American
Association of Physics Teachers Committee
on Minorities in Physics. In this role,
Nickerson will help to find more effec-
tive ways of recruiting and retaining
minorities in physics careers and help
minority physicists to overcome barriers
to career development.
Dr. Peggy Connolly, mentorship
coordinator for the Mentorship-lnquiry
Team, was elected as a member of
the Board of Directors of the National
Association of the Academies of Science
(NAAS) and the NAAS official delegate to
the Council of the American Association
for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).
Principal Eric McLaren served as the
North Central Association Visitation Team
Chairman for St. Charles North High
School. In this role, McLaren helped
to guide the accreditation process to
lead St. Charles in the development and
implementation of strategies to address
their school improvement goals.
Mathematics teacher Dr. Michael Keyton
presented The Midsegment Theorem in
(un) important and Theorems of Mystery
at the Teachers Teaching with Technology
International Conference in New Orleans.
IMSA Chief of Security Jim Bondi
authored the chapter School Security and
Strategic National Stockpile Distribution
Site Operation in the recently published
book The First 72 Hours: A Community
Approach to Disaster Preparedness.
Wellness teacher Barbara Baber will serve
as a Trainer this summer for the National
Board of Professional Teaching Standards.
In this role, Baber will train and supervise
other physical education teachers as
Assessors (scorers) for the Documented
Accomplishments portfolio entry for Early-
Middle Childhood Physical Education and
Early Adolescent to Young Adulthood
Physical Education.
Student Achievements
Recent examples include:
IMSA senior Bobby Xu of Naperville
was the only student from Illinois to be
named to USA TODAY'S 2004 All-USA
High School Academic First Team. He
was one of 20 students named in its
18th annual competition out of more
than 1,600 nominees nationwide.
IMSA junior Timothy Credo of Highland
Park was one of only 24 students selected
to be a member of the United States
Physics Team out of more than 1,500
nominees nationwide. IMSA senior Paul
Bierdz of Oak Forest also was named a
semi-finalist in the competition. Credo
was selected as a member of the team
based on a semi-final exam, his transcript
and academic summary, an application
and letter of recommendation.
IMSA seniors Joshua Johnson of
Channahon and Aretha Chakraborti of
Naperville co-presented Using Tissue
Culture for Inquiry in the Science
Classroom with IMSA science teacher
Dr. Don Dosch and Dr. Judith Scheppler,
coordinator of the Grainger Center for
Imagination and Inquiry, at the American
Society for Cell Biology annual meeting.
IMSA's 17-member Science Olympiad
Team finished third in the state, earning
medals in 10 events at the Illinois State
Science Olympiad.
IMSA junior Yuguan Shen of Springfield
was a national finalist in the Young
Epidemiology Scholars competition.
He was selected for his study on the
mortality rate during the 1995 Chicago
heat wave and how this could help
target public health efforts to prevent
premature deaths.
IMSA senior Jeff Chang of Glenview was
chosen to participate in the International
Science and Engineering Fair in Korea.
IMSA seniors Maggie Biel of Harwood
Heights and Mark Czynski of Mundelein
were selected to present papers at
Sakharov Readings in St. Petersburg,
Russia. Biel's research Stability of Phase
Markers of Melatonin and Temperature
Over Phase Shifts Under Normal Sleep
Conditions was conducted in IMSA's
Mentorship Program at Northwestern
University Medical School. Czynski's
research Extending the Search for
Supersymmetry with CDF Data also
was conducted in mentorship at the
University of Chicago and Fermilab
in Batavia.
Twenty-eight IMSA students received
medals in the National Russian Essay
Contest and four of them earned Gold
or Silver certificates of merit from the
Pushkin Institute in Moscow.
IMSA junior Conan Liu of Hanover Park
was awarded a full scholarship to the
2004 Telluride Association Summer
Program at Cornell University titled
"Pleasure and Danger: Bodies in History,
Science, Literature and Philosophy."
IMSA senior Agnes Rec of Wheaton
earned second place in the nation on the
National French Exam (Level 5). As a result
she competed and won a scholarship to
study at the Sorbonne in Paris for one
month this summer.
IMSA senior Heather Taff of St. Charles
was a Gold Key winner in the prestigious
Scholastic Art and Writing Awards in the
category of memoir writing. As a result,
her work advanced to the national level
from more than 5,000 submissions.
The IMSA Boys Tennis Team placed 8th
in the state in the Illinois High School
Association (IHSA) state tennis tournament.
m^
Alumni Achievements
Recent Examples include:
Class of 2000 graduate Alexa Bisinger
of Naperville received the prestigious
Fulbright Scholarship to study women's
health issues in Ecuador. Bisinger will
spend 10 months researching how cultural
and social factors influence women's
healthcare decisions, including whether
their choices contribute to the South
American nation's higher-than-average
mortality rate among women who are
pregnant or giving birth.
Class of 2001 graduates Jeff Tamer of
Schaumburg and Steve Downing of West
Chicago qualified for the world finals of
the International Collegiate Programming
Contest in Prague. They are part of a
three-person team from the University
of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign — one
of only 11 teams in the nation to advance
to world finals
Class of 1996 graduate Michael Brody of
Highland Park was named a Policy Advisor
to Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich in the
area of homeland security.
Class of 1993 graduate Shelley Minteer
of Aledo, assistant chemistry professor
at St. Louis University, helped to invent
a biofuel cell that would power devices
such as cell phones or laptop computers
with ethanol-based substances. The bio-
fuel cell she helped to invent can hold 62
times more energy than traditional batteries,
and will not harm the environment.
Class of 1999 graduate Josh Gerlick of
Somonauk is one of three founders of
EANeedle, a fledgling company that is
developing technology that uses ultra-
sounds for biopsies in places that were
almost impossible to reach using ordinary
needles. This new technology promises
to make earlier detection, better care
and less invasive techniques possible for
cancer patients.
This issue of NOVA is dedicated in
honor of retiring Charter Staff
Members Susan Eddins, mathemat-
ics faculty, Dr. Connie Hatcher, vice
president for educational programs
and services and Dr. LuAnn Smith,
director of institutional research
and enrollment management.
Thank you for your outstanding
commitment to IMSA, the students
and educators we serve and the
people of Illinois.
1986-2004
IMSA Class of 1998 graduate Nicole Gerlach of LaGrange Park, a doctoral student in animal
behavior at Indiana University, is pictured next to the newly renovated Wolf Woods exhibit
at Brookfield Zoo. The exhibit was designed based on IMSA's Ecology "Kill Site" problem-
based learning activity created by IMSA faculty member John Thompson. A sign at the
exhibit states "Thanks to IMSA for inspiring this unique experience."
-€B^
IMSA Faculty Members Receive National
Teaching Certification; Highest Standards
for the Teaching Profession
Almost one out of every four IMSA faculty
members is now certified with the National
Board Of Professional Teaching Standards,
the highest standards for the teaching
profession.
Three more IMSA faculty members recently
completed all of the requirements to receive
certification with the National Board of
Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS).
Micah Fogel of Aurora, a mathematics
teacher for nine years at IMSA and an
educator for 12 years, was certified in
Adolescence and Young Adulthood/
Mathematics teaching, Steve Condie of
Naperville, a mathematics teacher for six
years at IMSA and an educator for 13 years,
also was certified in Adolescence and
Young Adulthood/Mathematics teaching.
Branson Lawrence of Somonauk, a science
teacher at IMSA for 1 1 years and an
educator for 23 years, received certification
in Young Adulthood/Science teaching.
As part of the National Board Certification*
process, each teacher compiled and
submitted a teaching portfolio which
included videotapes of classroom teaching,
lesson plans, student work samples and
reflective written commentaries that detail
what they, as teachers, were doing and why.
They also had to complete an assessment
involving a series of written exercises
designed around challenging teacher issues
such as curriculum design, student assess-
ment and content knowledge.
Certified IMSA faculty members also
continue to help guide other Illinois
teachers seeking NBPTS certification.
This summer for the third year. Wellness
teacher Barbara Baber, who was certified
in November of 2001, will serve as a
Trainer for the NBPTS. In this role, Baber
trains and supervises other Physical
Education teachers as Assessors (scorers)
for the areas of Early-Middle Childhood/
Physical Education and Early Adolescence
and Young Adulthood/Physical Education.
Baber ensures that each teacher-candidate
receives a fair, reliable and valid assessment
of their work for their area.
Recently, Baber conducted an assessment
workshop for PE. teacher candidates and
an awareness workshop for potential
candidates.
The National Board for Professional
Teaching Standards, founded in 1987, is an
independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan and
non-governmental organization dedicated
to raising the level of teaching excellence
in classrooms throughout America.
r^lMSA
Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy'^
1500 West Sullivan Road
Aurora, Illinois 60506-1000
Address Service Requested
NON PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
AURORA, IL
PERMIT NO. 129
Visit us on the World Wide Web!
http://www.imsa.edu/
Although we strive for accuracy,
if you see an error in your mailing
label please call the Office of
Advancement (630) 907-5033.
Printed by Authority of the State of Illinois,
6,500 06/04, Purchase Order No. 600315.
TVNews
OpenLibrary